no Questions?

[ArlyA]

deleted; due to the lack of thoughtful answers to the actual qestion.

 

[tradosaurus]

From a Garage Journal forum:

I bought the Ego 52" ZTR in June 2022. So it's been almost a year. I was the first person to buy one from my local Ace Hardware. So I knew I'd be a local guinea pig.

My property is 16+ acres. Of that, I mow about 3 acres including the lawn around the house, paths, and a woodlot. For about 15 years, I mowed with a 1949 Ford 8n tractor pulling a 3-blade mowing deck. Then I bought a New Holland 33HP compact utility tractor and 60" flail mower, which I've had for another 15 years or so. The flail mower has 40 pairs of cutting knives; maintaining them was an ordeal even when I was 10 years younger. I wanted something more compact and maneuverable, with less smell, noise, and pollution. The Ego machine checks all those boxes. It has nearly replaced the flail mower except for brush cutting and very tall weeds.

The Ego is a fun little machine, very easy to operate, and surprisingly powerful. The biggest drawback for me (aside from the upfront cost) is that it has no real suspension system (other than what's in the seat). This makes it less than ideal for my bumpy terrain, but if it lasts more than 5 years or so, I don't think I'll regret the purchase. 5 years is a pretty low bar compared to a small farm tractor, which I'd expect to last for decades if properly maintained and operated. With the Ego, about half the cost seems to be tied up in the batteries and controls. So you're not really getting a $6500 lawn mower, you're getting more like a $3500 lawn mower and paying another $3000 or so up front for the fuel. So I don't expect much more service life than I'd get from a box store lawnmower. Then again, for a commercial grade ZTR (which is really what a property like mine needs), I'd probably pay double to triple the Ego price (or more, for one of the few available commercial grade rechargeable machines).

By the way, the Ego batteries can be used to power a range of household electricity back-up devices. Very handy when we lose power in a thunderstorm. Ego even makes a small battery-powered generator, which can be used *indoors* to power a TV, appliances, etc. So far I've only purchased a small, relatively inexpensive device that holds a single battery. Good for charging a laptop or smart phone, or maybe for powering a lamp.

 

[stevem5215]

Elon has the power source on his cars working pretty well. They are efficient compared to other manufacturers on the use of the power delivery to the wheels and comfort for the users. Everyone else has battery power issues. IMO when this will all get better is when we can come up with a better power source. Individual cells made into giant battery packs isn't it. Some kind of better source is needed.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

He says it would cost him 3x more for a COMMERCIAL ZTR. Yeah, it would, because you bought a homeowner grade mower from EGO. Not sure how that is relevant

 

[CH4Ohio]

Gas and diesel powered ZT mowers have a PUMP on each rear wheel. I fail to see the benefit related to mowing hills due to having a MOTOR on each rear wheel.

For hills, you can't really beat a Cub Cadet ZT with steering wheel. Essentially gives you 4-wheel steering.

I saw a guy looking at the EGO 42" mower in front of Lowes last week when I was walking in. My first thought was "Wonder how much of the yard that would mow before it needed to be charged?" My immediate second thought was "Why in the world would anyone consider a lawn mower that required you to . . . wonder how much of the yard that would mow before . . . ?"

I don't get it. You can run ANY gas or diesel mower all day long. Why would anyone want a plug-in mower?

Plus -- Electric mowers run on coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, etc. . . . and a tiny drop of wind and solar. So what's the point?

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I've found that heavier mowers, hold hills better. I'll have to see what an EGO weighs

410 pounds

A commercial mower that will hold hills, weighs about 1300 pounds

 

[stevem5215]

I agree. My two zero turns show that too. The ZT2500 is 1/2 the weight of the Simplicity Citation XT and the first one slides all over the hills. The XT is sure footed no matter what (except if I cut in the rain of course then all bets are off).

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Batteries are about $3k.... And won't last as long as an ICE. That's a tough pill to swallow

 

[CH4Ohio]

I've found that heavier mowers, hold hills better. I'll have to see what an EGO weighs

410 pounds

A commercial mower that will hold hills, weighs about 1300 pounds

WOW! That's light -- obviously built as light as possible to maximize battery run-time. But that's barely twice the weight of the average operator.

My Cub ZT weighs 1424 pounds. Add 200# to that for the operator. BIG difference. (Of course, the Cub has a 60" deck -- so wider.) I'd estimate that the Cub will mow flat-out for 6+ hours before it needs a shot of energy. "Recharging" takes about 5 minutes.

 

[5030]

I will say I've never seen a Ego self combust yet but there is always a first time..

All high end ZTR's have individual wheel motors btw and they are hydrostat. The cheapo ones don't.

I would never even consider buying an Ego because they are made in China. Big no for me. Same applies to the battery powered tools as well.

If we don't start weaning ourselves off of China made stuff, at some point we will be eating raw fish with chopsticks I fear.

 

[Eagle1]

WOW! That's light -- obviously built as light as possible to maximize battery run-time. But that's barely twice the weight of the average operator.

My Cub ZT weighs 1424 pounds. Add 200# to that for the operator. BIG difference. (Of course, the Cub has a 60" deck -- so wider.) I'd estimate that the Cub will mow flat-out for 6+ hours before it needs a shot of energy. "Recharging" takes about 5 minutes.

My old Yazoo-kees 60" mower has two 7 gallon tanks and uses about 1/2 gallon per hour. It's a mountain goat compared to the Grasshopper...

 

[2manyrocks]

Last time I compared prices, battery powered mowers were priced at a premium compared to gas powered units and the availability and pricing of replacement batteries was not something easily ascertained. Some of the mower blades seemed light duty compared to regular mowers, too.

The Cub Cadet zero turn units with steering wheels seemed to be priced about $1,000 more than their regular ZTRs, but have higher slope ratings. If I were going to pay a premium for a hillside mower, that's probably where I'd consider spending my money if the slopes I had to mow in a yard were within their slope ratings.

 

[5030]

Last time I compared prices, battery powered mowers were priced at a premium compared to gas powered units and the availability and pricing of replacement batteries was not something easily ascertained. Some of the mower blades seemed light duty compared to regular mowers, too.

The Cub Cadet zero turn units with steering wheels seemed to be priced about $1,000 more than their regular ZTRs, but have higher slope ratings. If I were going to pay a premium for a hillside mower, that's probably where I'd consider spending my money if the slopes I had to mow in a yard were within their slope ratings.

My wife has one and she likes it. Me, not so much but I'm sure I'll get used to the steering wheel as my new Kubota has a steering wheel as well that I'll have to add a spinner to... Time to visit the local truck stop and get one like I have on my M9's, with the gal that drops her top when you use it...

I actually bought hers used with really low hours from my Kubota dealer for 1000 bucks.

 

[5030]

Last year I looked at them at Home Despot and candidly I was not impressed with the build quality compared to the price. They put me in mind of something an upwardly mobile suburbanite might buy to elevated their status with the neighbors.

 

[workinonit]

I will say I've never seen a Ego self combust yet but there is always a first time..

All high end ZTR's have individual wheel motors btw and they are hydrostat. The cheapo ones don't.

I would never even consider buying an Ego because they are made in China. Big no for me. Same applies to the battery powered tools as well.

If we don't start weaning ourselves off of China made stuff, at some point we will be eating raw fish with chopsticks I fear.

Kubota 10, 12, 15 and 16 series don't have wheel motors. They have full blown transaxles. Not sure about their other models. It's one of the reasons why I like them and bought a 1211. That said, after running it I can't tell the difference in the transaxle and the motor driven mowers. I still like the idea of having that transmission.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I've used a 653 pound Hustler Raptor XD... And it is not very sticky on hills. I have a 1350 pound Hustler XOne, and it sticks like glue to hillsides. Never used a battery mower, but certainly light and heavy ZTRs. That EGO weight is insanely low

 

[5030]

Kubota 10, 12, 15 and 16 series don't have wheel motors. They have full blown transaxles. Not sure about their other models. It's one of the reasons why I like them and bought a 1211. That said, after running it I can't tell the difference in the transaxle and the motor driven mowers. I still like the idea of having that transmission.

I have no idea. Both our zero turns have individual Hydro-Gear hydrostat drives, one on each rear wheel. My M60 tank will be leaving shortly, being replaced by a Kubota diesel front mount mower.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I have read reviews saying it isn't great on slopes. 15% grade is excessive.
I've also read unhappy customer reviews due to software updates, and electrical errors making the unit unusable, requiring service to correct. It's basically a computer. It's connected via app. Lots of sensors and electrical management. All reviews said it does NOT have the quoted endurance.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

My X-One ZTR has dedicated Parker units on each wheel. The Raptor has a Hydrogear 2800 transaxle because it is homeowner grade. Hydrogear are less efficient, less powerful, less robust han dedicated pumps.
However, drive line aside, the lighter units slip and slide on grades much more.
I bought my in-laws a new Raptor XD 3 years ago for their hilly KY property. It has served them well, but I drove it last week, and at 205 hours, it sure seems it has a transaxle on its way out already

 

[5030]

I see it has a light gage stamped steel deck as well. Light gage decks without constant upkeep, tend to rot out quickly as well. Sizeable investment to have it rot out I'd say.

One of the driving reasons I'm getting a Kubota front mount mower, you can tilt the deck up quickly and easily to clean it off.

Leaving cut grass clippings on the underside of any deck, stamped or fabricated will promote corrosion but a heavy gage deck will last longer without cleaning, stands to reason.

What I do with our present ZTR's is I pick them up from the front with one of my loaders and clean them off standing vertically. I'll eliminate that with the new Kubota entirely. Both of them have the useless 'deck wash' on them. Totally useless. Only thing that does is drive water in the deck spindles.